News Links | June 19, 2018

System News | Opinion

Alexander Hood will be the first to say he wasn’t a stellar student during his time
at Anacortes High School. Classes didn’t interest him, he said, and after graduating
in 2003 he didn’t want to attend any more of them. Things have changed since then. On
Friday, Hood graduated from Skagit Valley College with awards from the physics and math departments, the President’s Medal for maintaining
a 3.9 GPA and the college’s Sydney S. McIntyre scholarship.Skagit Valley Herald, June 18, 2018

Robert Dowling, the Centralia College 2018 Distinguished Alumnus, has spent his life catching criminals. “I was either
going to be a really great criminal or really great at catching them,” Dowling said
Friday at the luncheon where he accepted his award from Centralia College Foundation.
“I chose the latter.” Dowling attended Centralia College for one year in 1979 and
went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and a master’s
degree from Washington State University. He worked as a special agent for the Naval
Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) for 13 years. Dowling served as the counterintelligence
director to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, supported Operation Desert
Shield/Desert Storm and has served as a senior special agent worldwide.Centralia Chronicle, June 18, 2018

By Jean Hernandez, president emeritus of Edmonds Community College. As we celebrate Father’s Day, I reflect on the dads whose lives have changed because
someone gave them a second chance. Those dads who have served time in prison for selling
drugs, hurting someone or many other crimes. But what if they have served their time
in prison and are now going to college to create a better lives for themselves and
their children. Don’t they deserve a second chance? Sean is a dad and just such a
student, currently finishing his two-year degree at Edmonds Community College where
getting an education is his priority so he can provide for his daughter and give back
to his community.Everett Herald, June 17, 2018

Rich Patton walked to a spot overlooking the beach at Picnic Point Park. He thought
about a father-son project, a table he and his dad once built there out of logs. Now
54, Patton is Snohomish County’s parks operations supervisor and chief ranger. He
began his career at 21 as a seasonal park aide at Picnic Point. His boyhood home overlooked
the Edmonds-area park. ... Long before Rich Patton enrolled in Skagit Valley College’s parks law enforcement program or became a ranger, his dad was a part-time caretaker
at Picnic Point Park. He also had a 32-year career with the U.S. Postal Service.Everett Herald, June 17, 2018

Each of the 538 graduates in the Big Bend Community College class of 2018 made it to commencement from a slightly different direction. There
were single moms like Stephanie Philin, Moses Lake, who wanted a better job, both
for herself and her son Bryan. She graduated with a medical assistant’s degree. The
medical assistants are the support staff, working the reception desk, among other
things, Philin said. And her degree might not be the end of her education – she’s
thinking about going back to school for a degree in nursing, she said.Columbia Basin Herald, June 17, 2018

Students march to commencement ceremonies Saturday on the Port Angeles campus of Peninsula College. About 270 people were signed up to take part in the outdoor ceremony with the college
awarding more than 500 degrees and certificates.Peninsula Daily News, June 17, 2018

The Skagit County Community Justice Center on Thursday had its first class of inmates
complete the Life Transitions Program. “It’s a class where people learn to take a
look at themselves,” said Aaron Kirk, an instructor in adult basic education at Skagit Valley College, which runs the program. “It’s very introspective.” Students learn communication
skills, self-esteem, goal setting and positive decision-making, said Margo Grothe,
Life Transitions coordinator at the college.Skagit Valley Herald, June 16, 2018

On a breezy Friday evening at Kelso’s Schroeder Field, about 375 Lower Columbia College students of varying ages and backgrounds were honored for their tenacity at the college’s
82nd annual commencement. “I have never seen a group of individuals … with such a
complete determination to better themselves,” Associated Students of LCC President
Clinton Howard said in his speech. “The determination of my peers is unmatched.” LCC
President Christopher Bailey echoed Howard’s appreciation.Longview Daily News, June 16, 2018

Friends and families gathered to honor three students graduating from Skagit Valley College San Juan Center on June 13 at Brickworks in Friday Harbor. “While the class is small,
each of you has the ability to change the world,” said Skagit president Thomas Keegan. He
encouraged the graduates to continue pursuing their goals, as well as excellence.San Juan Journal, June 16, 2018

The Daily News interviewed all four of Lower Columbia College’s Scholastic Achievement Award winners, who graduated with the highest GPA in academic
transfer and professional-technical programs.Longview Daily News, June 16, 2018

As Jordan Shelley prepared for the weekend's graduation activities at Skagit Valley College Friday, he thought of his biological mother in Ethiopia and the difficult days of
his childhood growing up in a mud hut. "You had to grow up really fast," he said. Jordan's
father died from a simple infection he got while working. It left Jordan's disabled
mother to beg in the streets and the young boy to work odd jobs at the age of just
7 years old to survive.KING 5, June 15, 2018

Olympic College’s June 17 commencement ceremony will mark an incredibly important day for those walking
across the stage to collect their diplomas. But for one pair of graduates, the day
will be extra special. With OC’s commencement ceremony coinciding with Father’s Day
this year, Steven Henden will be treated to what he calls “the best Father’s Day gift
ever.” On Sunday, Henden and his daughter Rachel, also a student at OC, will walk
across the stage together to collect their diplomas. That’s right; both Steven and
Rachel will be graduating from OC at the same time — on Father’s Day.Kitsap Daily News, June 15, 2018

We’re so proud of all our [Tacoma Community College] graduates! Here are a few special things happening at Commencement Saturday. We’re
awarding 4 Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degrees. ... We’re awarding 5 Associate
of Music Degrees. ... We’re celebrating our oldest graduate, who is 85 years old,
and our youngest, who is 17.The Suburban Times, June 15, 2018

Bates Technical College student Sophia Tran received the Dennis Seinfeld Emerging Leader award at a City
Club of Tacoma dinner meeting on June 6. The annual award recognizes an individual
who demonstrates the qualities and values of leadership, but is not yet recognized
as an established leader in the community. Tran, a student in the college’s Computer
Networking Systems Technician program, demonstrated her leadership skills as an active
member of the community and Associated Student Government.Tacoma Weekly, June 15, 2018

Earning an associate’s degree is now more accessible than ever to Yelm citizens. In
a joint partnership with Yelm Community Schools, South Puget Sound Community College is coming to Yelm this fall, establishing a campus at Yelm High School. This partnership
exists because, “South Puget Sound Community College and Yelm [Community Schools]
have a strong interest in increasing college access for the citizens of Yelm and East
Thurston County,” said Lisa Cadero-Smith, assistant superintendent for Yelm Community
Schools. Eligible participants include those with a high school diploma, a GED® or
that are Running Start students, all of which may earn their transfer degree by the
end of their program.Yelm Online, June 14, 2018

As the academic year approaches its conclusion, Clover Park Technical College continued a tradition of recognizing its exceptional students, faculty, and staff
members on June 6 at the sixth annual Student Awards Ceremony. More than 200 attendees
enjoyed pre-ceremony appetizers and activities, including a photo booth, as the Office
of Student Involvement decorated the McGavick Conference Center with a Secret Garden
theme. A total of 11 awards were handed out over the course of the evening.The Suburban Times, June 14, 2018

“Innovating for Our Future: Products, Processes & Technologies” was the theme of the
2018 Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound (CAMPS) Conference held Thursday,
June 7, in Bellevue, so it was fitting that Clover Park Technical College’s Mechatronics program was highlighted at the event as the region’s leading two-year
college program in manufacturing. Event organizers also provided CPTC’s Club MEC a
prominent display placement so that students could show off their knowledge and skills
to some of the most advanced companies in the state.The Suburban Times, June 14, 2018

Trends | Horizons | Education

Since its creation in 2000, the Lumina Foundation has focused almost entirely on college
completion. But the foundation has now added racial justice and equity as a priority. Indianapolis-based
Lumina announced June 12 that it will provide $625,000 in grants to 19 colleges and
universities with the goal of improving race relations on campus. The grants, part
of Lumina's recently created Fund for Racial Justice and Equity, are unlike much of
Lumina's past work. But Danette Howard, senior vice president and chief strategy officer
at Lumina, believes they fall directly in line with Lumina's goals of increasing degree
attainment and closing achievement gaps for minority students.Inside Higher Ed, June 19, 2018

We’ve shared the number before from Washington Roundtable that between 2016 and 2021,
Washington state can expect some 740,000 job openings. That’s good news for those
crossing the stage to accept their high school diplomas this month. It’s better news
if those high school graduates are considering some level of post-secondary education,
whether that’s college, other trade or technical training or apprenticeships. Because
fewer and fewer jobs will be available to those with only a high school diploma.Everett Herald, June 18, 2018

The University of Washington has settled a lawsuit with the UW College Republicans
club over $17,000 in security fees the university planned to charge the club for holding a
rally Feb. 10 with the conservative group Patriot Prayer. The College Republicans
argued that the security fee unconstitutionally infringed upon their First Amendment
freedom of speech rights by making it unaffordable for them to host events that could
lead to violent protests. Under the terms of the settlement, the UW will pay $127,000
in legal fees to the College Republicans’ attorneys. The UW will also no longer charge
any student groups a security fee for speakers, unless the group specifically asks
for security to be present.The Seattle Times, June 18, 2018

No grades, no departments, no majors. For years, The Evergreen State College has been
famous for a freewheeling approach to higher education. But last spring, after demonstrations
rocked the campus, critics on the right — and sometimes the left — characterized the
Olympia public college as a place where an extreme form of political correctness had
taken hold. This fall, Evergreen expects its enrollment to drop by 20 percent, almost
600 students. For the state’s smallest public college, that’s almost a thousand fewer
students from just five years ago. Now school officials and faculty are wondering
what’s to blame and how they can reverse the accelerating trend. Was it the demonstrations,
our changing national politics or incessant media coverage? The answer is debated.
But one thing school officials agree on: Evergreen needs to reinvent itself to survive.The Seattle Times, June 17, 2018

The University of Kansas has expanded a program to help students earn a bachelor’s
degree in three years. The “Degree in 3” streamlines course credits from 10 regional
high schools and community colleges with the university’s Edwards campus bachelor’s
degrees. The Kansas City Star reports a signing event at the Edwards Campus on Tuesday
formalized the program. Supporters say it reduces the cost of earning a degree and
helps students enter the workforce more quickly.The Seattle Times, June 17, 2018

Class of 2018 graduates are using the skills they learned at college to start climbing
the career ladder. However, the journey to the top can prove more challenging than
expected, especially when a graduate makes some common career-path mistakes. Here
are eight mistakes new grads should avoid to become successful at work and land their
dream job.The Seattle Times, June 16, 2018

A new report from Pearson, the education technology company, and Jobs for the Future,
a nonprofit group, argues that postsecondary education is on the cusp of a third wave
of reform. Previous reform movements focused on access (getting more students into
higher education) and success (encouraging more students to get to graduation). The
new report, which was based on federal data and interviews with experts, said the
next wave of reform will be about ensuring more graduates and program completers are
job ready and have access to rewarding careers.Inside Higher Ed, June 15, 2018

Washington's jobless rate dipped slightly as the state added 8,500 jobs last month. According
to numbers released Wednesday by the Employment Security Department, the unemployment
rate for May dropped to 4.7 percent from April's 4.8 percent. Paul Turek, economist
for the department, says in a written statement that gains "were widespread across
industries with most adding jobs." The largest job gains last month were seen in retail
trade and construction. manufacturing retail trade and leisure and hospitality. The
biggest reductions were seen in transportation, warehousing & utilities.The News Tribune, June 13, 2018

Politics | Local, State, National

The federal government will not require colleges to publicly disclose data about their
vocational programs' graduate employment rates or debt levels — requirements under
the Obama-era “gainful-employment” rule — until after U.S. Department of Education
can rewrite the regulation. The department also announced in a filing Friday that
it will postpone certain gainful-employment disclosure requirements, which had been
scheduled to go into effect next month, until July 2019. It’s the second yearlong
postponement for those requirements under Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, who
also in January weakened the disclosures by dropping one on graduate earnings.Inside Higher Ed, June 18, 2018

The school year might be ending, but many districts and teachers unions across Washington
are negotiating their first contracts since the Supreme Court approved the Legislature’s
reforms in response to its 2012 McCleary decision. Parents, administrators and teachers
should remember that the school funding case was not just about more money for schools
or teacher salaries. The school funding lawsuit also was about making sure every child
in Washington gets a high-quality education that prepares them for college and career.
Budgets and teacher contracts should support this ideal.The Seattle Times, June 17, 2018

A House appropriations proposal for fiscal year 2019 would provide a $119 million
increase for career and technical education but would keep the maximum Pell Grant
flat at $6,095 in fiscal year 2019. The proposal, released Thursday, would also increase
support for the TRIO and GEAR UP programs by $60 million and $10 million, respectively.Inside Higher Ed, June 15, 2018